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Sinclair Knight Merz awarded Vale iron ore contract in Brazil

Global engineering and project delivery firm Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) has been awarded a US$76 million implementation contract for the truckless component of Vale's S11D project in Brazil.

Global engineering and project delivery firm Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) has been awarded a US$76 million implementation contract for the truckless component of Vale's S11D project in Brazil.

The project consists of the opening and implementation of a new mine in Canaã dos Carajás in the Para region, which is expected to produce 90 million tonnes of iron ore a year. When full capacity is reached, S11D will double Vale’s total iron ore production in Pará to 230 million tonnes per year.

SKM will play a key role in driving sustainability of the project using "truckless" mining technology. This innovative system utilises conveyor belts rather than trucks to transport the iron ore from the mine to the stockpiles, thus preserving the forests, reducing carbon emissions, and at the same time reducing the operating costs due to reductions in the consumption of fuel and tyres.

SKM will provide engineering for the truckless system, procurement support, project execution planning and project management services in a contract that will be the cornerstone of its mining business in Brazil.

"SKM continues to build on its relationship with Vale, utilising our global engineering and project execution capabilities. The Carajás project is currently the biggest private initiative in the world in the development of iron ore mining. We are excited to be chosen as partners in this important project, and are committed to its successful delivery in order to assist Vale in realising its business objectives," SKM’s CEO Santo Rizzuto said.

AboutSinclairKnightMerz (SKM)

Sinclair Knight Merz is a leading projects firm, with global capability in strategic consulting, engineering and project delivery. It operates in three regions: Asia Pacific, the Americas and EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa), deploying some 7,000 people from more than 40 offices while serving the Buildings and Infrastructure, Mining and Metals, Power and Energy, and Water and Environment sectors. Formed in 1964 in Sydney as a private company, SKM has retained its independence through employee ownership, with fee income now greater than US$1 billion.

AboutVale

With operations, offices, exploration projects and joint ventures spread across five continents, Vale is the second biggest mining company in the world. Headquartered in Brazil, Vale operates in 38 countries and directly employs more than 126,000 people, as well as another 50,000 working on its ongoing projects.